Libya PM resigns after family violently "assaulted"

TRIPOLI, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Libya's interim Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thani announced Sunday that he has resigned during a General National Congress meeting, saying he and his family were violently "assaulted" the previous night, local news agencies reported.

"My family and I suffered a brutal attack last night and the shooting terrified local residents and put their lives in danger," Thani was quoted as saying by the local daily the Libyan Herald. " I will not accept one drop of blood to be spilled because of me and I will not allow myself, as prime minister, to be a reason for Libyans fighting."

According to the report, the interim prime minister will officially submit his resignation as soon as the General National Congress finds a replacement.

Thani, a former defense minister, was sworn in as prime minister of Libya's caretaker government last month after his predecessor Prime Minister Ali Zeidan was ousted amid disputes over oil exports and criticisms that his government failed to restore stability to the North African country following the toppling of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

Libya has been wracked with political violence and instability since the end of the civil war in 2011, which witnessed the rise of many armed militias in the country.

Cases of assassinations and kidnappings targeting politicians, security officials and their family members have increased as authorities attempt to crack down on the armed groups.